Foot-arch support



Mal -ch 26, 1929. H. ELBERT 1,707,210

FOOT ARCH SUPPORT Filed April 1928 fnvzniar- Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES HEINRICH ELBERT, 0F OFFENBAGH-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY.

FOOT-ARCH SUPPORT.

Application filed April 5, 1928, Serial No. 267,780, and in Germany September 20, 1927.

This invention relates toa foot-arch support for use with boots and shoes and consists in the provision of an arch-supporting plate which is provided with fastening elements adapted to interlock with the usual insole or with a separate sole or seek, by a longitudinal, forward dis )l-. tce1nent of the plate relative to the sole, the plate being provided with acushioning cover which has a hinged, rearward extension adapted, by abutment against the heel cap of the fotwear, to retain the plate in operative position.

Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent longitudinal sections of soles of different constructions,

Fig. 3 is a top View of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4s, a top view of Fi 2,

Fig. 5, a top view of the arch-support used with the sole construction of Figs. 1 and 3,

Fig. 6, a View of the arch-support used with the sole construction of Figs. 2 and 4t, and

Fig. 7, a sectional view showing a modification of the sole.

The foot-arch support comprises a sole (0 which may either be the ordinary insole of the footwear or a separate sole or seek. To this sole an arch-supporting plate 0 having a cushioning cover 7 of cork, felt, leather, rubber or the like, is detachably connected by means of fastening elements which may either be composed of headed studs h (Fig. 5) or offset tongues Z (Fig. 6) adapted to engage in apertures made in the sole for their reception.

In the ease of headed studs, the sole is formed with keyhole apertures m, as shown in Fig. lVhen the tongues Z are employed, the sole is preferably formed with transverse, elongated slots 0 (Fig. 41-) into which the tongues are inserted. The arrangement such that in both instances a longitudinal forward displacement of the arclnsuppmting plate relative to the sole is necessary for the fastening elements to become interlocked with the sole.

To retain the support in locked position, the cover 7 is formed at the rear with a hinged extension g. This extension, which must be deflected, as shown dotted in Fig. 5, to allow the fastening elements to enter the apertures, is subsequently pressed down against the heel cap of the footwear so as to preventthe footarch support from shifting.

The two tongues Z in Fig. 6 differ in length so as to be capable of entering successively into engagement with their apertures. By this arrangement the application of the foot arch support to the sole will be facilitated] The apertures m and c are strengthened with metal linings Z), and a plate (Z is applied to the underside of the sole (6 under each aperture, so as to form a support whereon the stud it or tongue Z can easily slide into locking position.

In order to provide a continuous, smooth supporting surface for the foot, the sole 0. may, as shown in Fig. 7, be formed of overlapping parts a and a made so as to form a shoulder 17. against which the front end of the foot-arch support can abut, as shown in Fig. 7, the end portion of the support being flush with the sole portion forming the shoulder.

I claim:

1. A foot-arch support for use with footwear having heel caps, comprising a sole, an arch-supporting plate having fastening elements adapted to interlock with said solo by longitudinal, forward displacement of the plate relative to the sole, a cushioning cover for said a1ell-supporting plate, and a hinged extension at the rear end of the cover adapted to retain the plate in locked position by abutment against the heel cap.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1. wherein the fastening elements consist of headed studs adapted to engage in keyhole a )ertures in. the sole.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sole is composed of coni'iected, over-- lapping parts forming a shoulder against which the front end of the arch support can abut and produce a continuous supporting surface for the foot.

HEINRICH ELBERT. 

